Everything needs a set-up before things implode, just be patient, this was necessary. As an opener goes, it was pretty solid. Now that the pieces are on the table, is time to break havoc!

Don't stress. Episode 7 is like 81 minutes xD

My high point was Samwell at the Citadel, some decent stuff there. Most of the episode was okay, not really any memorable lines, so smart to keep Dany mute as cinematography is strong point. Why was Dragonstone completely empty?

Not sure how the Hound gained his ability. Euron was better, not sure where he got all those ships, but curious if he'll bring the horn. Jorah got to Old Town somehow while having Greyscale. Winterfell stuff was a mix bag.

My low point was the first scene. Well acted and all, but continues to make no damn sense. Arya is among my very favorite characters and I hate the cheap direction they're taking two of my favorite arcs in. That said, meeting the Lannister men was okay.

Overall, a 5/10. Some decent stuff, some puzzling stuff like how fast news continues to travel at internet speed, good budget and sets, not much stuck story wise for me.

I think this is the first GoT episode I feel I can skip and probably go right to the next episode without missing much. The beginning was a nice opener to get things going, and some of the slower moments were ok and immersive but the whole episode just kept staying slow and with very little payoff. It was a tease to a certain point..hopefully this will be the last of those.

There could have been just 12 episodes total between season 7 and 8 and I think it would have worked out better for the first episode of season 7.

I'm sure the next 5 will be great and this episode was just a starter to get things going but the spoilers and reveals would have done better rushed rather than sluggishly going along imho. It wouldn't have taken too long to cram all of that in the next (hopefully) entertaining episode.

This bothers people?  I had no idea until reading this and investigating as never seen this guy.  His acting was fine for a small role, oddly something that annoys so many didn't concern me at all.

A very solid premiere episode, I would rate it around 7-8

it was a good first episode of the season 9/10

I'm a little confused as to how Cersei is Queen, as she herself doesn't actually have a legitimate claim to the Throne, nor does her brother. They were only connected to royalty as she was Queen Consort to King Robert... their kids had a legitimate claim through him, but she does not.

Hopefully they explain in the first episode... I suppose at this point there's hardly anyone left to inherit the throne lol, she might be ruling by virtue of nothing more than having a zombified Mountain standing next to her :D

In the Game of Thrones universe, it's not just about the line of succession, but also about balance of power. Robert had no legitimate claim to the Throne and still ruled for what... 17 years? And the common people must be sympathetic to Cersei's claim since her little boy committed suicide and the Sept's explosion engulfed most of the nobility. But it might become a problem as time passes (and when the Iron Bank claims back the debt).

Robert was indeed a usurper but his legitimacy was established with the King's overthrow and the support of other vassal kings. Here, we find ourselves with a "Kingdom" in which almost all feudal ties (the vassalage system relying entirely on dynastic connections) have been severed at this point. I really think Cersei reigns primarily because everyone looked around after that explosion, saw that there was no one left to raise any sort of voice in opposition, those who have made claims are already rising in revolt, and the Lannister family still has many holdings and wealth to work with while she personally has an unstoppable killing machine by her side lol

At this point it resembles not so much the High Feudal society of the late middle ages as it does the chaotic years of the early middle ages, when rulers were little more than absolute autocrats and warlords with very little in the way of law, legitimacy, or "national" identity. She has even opposed and destroyed the temporal presence and authority of the church itself. It'll definitely be cool to watch and see what happens from here; I honestly wouldn't even want the damn throne at this point lol